Fuel pump assembly



March 26, 1957 Filed Oct. 29, 1952 l. E. COFFEY FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY 7 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR. F '9 IRVEN E.COFFEY QIw KM ATTORNEY March 26, 1957 E. COFFEY 2,786,423

FUEL. PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 29, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 'FIG.6.

INVENTOR. IRVEN E. COFFEY ATTORNEY March 26, 1957 I. E. COFFEY 2,786,423

FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 29, 1952 I 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 20 30 IRVEN E.COFFEY ATTOBNEY March 26, 1957 l. E. COFFEY 2,786,423

FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 29. 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. IRVEN E. COFFEY A'ETORNEY March 26, 1957 E. COFFEY ,4

FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 29, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. 'IRVEN E. COFFEY ATTORNEY March 26, 1957 E. COFFEY 2,786,423

FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 29, 1952 v Sheets-Sheet 7 FIG.32.

INVENTOR. IRVEN E. COFFEY M km ATTORNEY United States Patent FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY Irven E. Coffey, Clayton, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to ACF Industries, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 29, 1952, Serial No. 317,499

14 Claims. (Cl. 103-150) This invention relates to a casing seal as applied to a diaphragm pump adapted to be powered from a driven cam shaft. Pumps of this type are suitable for many uses, but the particular one described and shown here is a fuel pump constructed to be attached directly to an engine, so that the pump lever is oscillated'directly or by intermediate linkages from the engine cam shaft. It is usual to manufacture this type of fuel pump with two or more separate flanged casings, assemble the pump parts in the casings, and finally clamp the casings together by a plurality of circumferentially spaced screws through the flanges. The present invention is a more or less permanent seal between the casing flanges, which wholly eliminates the use of screws through the flanges, and thereby many costly machining and assembly operations. More specifically, the present invention is applicable where it is necessary to clamp the diaphragm of the pump between the casing flanges.

It will be obvious that the elimination of screws in the flanges of the pump casing inherently does away with many machining operations, but there are other unobvious advantages and benefits, all of which contribute to a more uniform comparative performance between the final products. The machining operations mentioned above leave chips which must, in turn, be cleaned away from the casings, and the cleaning operation involves another work operation to which the parts are subjected. In this operation, the parts to be cleaned are tumbled in a washing fluid, and, to do this, it is necessary to load and unload the casings to and from steel baskets. It followsthat the washing and handling add to the expense of manufacture. Besides this disadvantage, these operations are rough on the casings, and, of course, no cleaning operation is totally or completely efiicient. Some of the parts will necessarily be damaged sufficiently by the rough handling to cause rejection of the completed pumps; others will still contain chips not eliminated by the washing operation. In the latter case, these chips have a tendency to cling to rubber diaphragms, valves, or seats in the completed pump, and thereby decrease the pump efficiency, so that the final products will be non-uniform in comparative output.

Of course, the rejections are a total loss, but defective pumps are to be avoided at all costs. These develop trouble after being put in use, which damages the reputation of themanufacturer, p

On one of the modifications herein disclosed, provided with the seal according to this invention, the only machining operation involved is tapping for the threads in the bosses which receive-the pipe connections. The less machining done, the less the amount of chips and, it follows, the simpler the cleaning operation.

The improved seal herein disclosed also results in fewer rejects due to defective diaphragms, and improved diaphragm life for other reasons. Aside from the fact that there is no need for screw holes in the diaphragm, which in itself constitutes one source of trouble, other advantages flow directly from the features of this novel seal.

2,786,423 Patented Mar. 26, 1957 screws is thus avoided. The diaphragm is subject to uniform pressure throughout its periphery, and there is no chance of uneven stresses in operation.

The improved seal herein disclosed also results in fewer rejects and improved diaphragm life due to the elimination of difiiculties encountered in the assembly of the easings. The assembly operation is usually carried out by inserting and tightening the screws consecutively. Thus the diaphragm is stretched circumferentially. When this happens, the last one or two holes of the diaphragm. will fail to register with the holes provided in the flanges, and the forcible insertion of the screw tends to produce slight breaks in the diaphragnrwhich may cause rupture or leaks to develop during pump operation. In any event, assembly of the pump in the above manner causes uneven stresses on the diaphragm which contributes to premature failure.

The improved seal herein disclosed may result in either a smaller pump or one of the same size but with increased capacity. Because holes are not necessary in the diaphragm and the casing flanges, the dimensions of the latter may be decreased, thus providing a more compact pump of smaller outside diameter. On the other hand, if the outside diameter is the same, smaller flanges will provide for a larger active diaphragm area. This advantage should not be overlooked because, on the modern engine, installation space is definitely restricted, and accessibility must be provided.

)ther advantages in manufacture and assembly will be mentioned herein as the description proceeds.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pump with a novel sealing means between the casing parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pump which is simpler in manufacture and assembly.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a seal for a pump whichwill produce more uniform compara-v tive characteristics between pumps when placed in production.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pump with a seal between the casing parts to provide uniform pressure circumferentially of a diaphragm clamped between the parts.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pump with a seal between the casing parts which, during assembly, will automatically provide the proper loop in the pump diaphragm.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a top plan view of a hat-shaped pump according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a full side elevational view of the pump of Fig. 1, partly in section and partly broken away, to show the actuating lever and the seal between the flanges of the casings.

Fig. 3 is a full sectional front view of the assembled pump of Fig. 1.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show three views on an enlarged scale of the casing flanges of the pump to illustrate the method Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 show in enlarged section two modified forms of seal before and after assembly.

' Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the hat-section type of 7 pump provided with a modified form of seal.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the pump shown in Fig.

. cept as to the construction of the upper casing, which, in this instance, is in two sections 40 and 41, the latter, of which forms a cap or closure. Between the sections is 'a combined diaphragm and gasket 44 and two at taching screws 43 (one shown) engaged with threads 42 in the upper closure 41. Two threaded pipe connections provide an inlet at 45 in the cap section and an outlet at 46 in the upper casing section. Since access to the screws 43 can be had only during assembly, this type of pump also becomes a sealed tamper-proof unit after assembly of the seal between the flanges l5 and 30.

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of the seal between the flanges 30 and 15, which is adaptable to any of the types of pump described. In this modification, the flange 15 is likewise provided with the inclined notches 16 and the arcuate downwardly facing shoulders 17. The lower flange is provided with the upstanding fingers 31 and upwardly facing arcuate shoulders 32. Instead of the ring groove 35 previously described, in this modification the groove for the O-ring 35 is of arcuate section tangent with the inner face of a ring having the fingers 31 and shoulders 32, and provided with a beveled surface extending inwardly of the radial face of the flange 30.

Fig. 9 shows the parts in sealed relation, and it will be noted that, during the compression of the O-ring 36,

it expands inwardly of the radial face of the flange 30,

thus carrying with it the diaphragm 27. Because of this unusual action during compression of the O-ring 36, it is unnecessary to assemble the pump in a jig in order to form the loop in the pump diaphragm 27.

In Fig. 10 is shown a modified form for the same seal as above described. Similar parts carry similar reference characters. In this particular form, the groove 35" in the upper radial face of the flange 30 comprises a small arcuate section, a steep beveled section tangent thereto and extending outwardly of the flange 30, and a more gradual beveled section extending inwardly of the radial face of the flange 30. As shown in Fig. 11, when the flanges and are brought into sealed relation, the O-ring is compressed and is distorted inwardly of the radial face of the flange 30 to a greater degreethan outwardly. This isfor the obvious reason that greater room for expansion is provided inwardly of the flange 30. The outer beveled portion of the groove is primarily for the purpose of eliminating sharp edges.

of which has an outlet boss internally thereof threaded at 10 to receive a pipe connection, as in Fig. 13. Chamber 6, as shown in the same figure, has an external boss with a threaded inlet pipe connection 8. In addition, this boss has radial faces 55 and 56 adjacent the lower casing flange 51.

Casing 20 has flange 30 with an upstanding ring or collar and internal spaced shoulders 52 (Fig. 14) on its upper radial face which are slightly less in height than the thickness of the unstressed diaphragm 27'. A split clamping ring 53 abuts faces and 56 and frictionally engages the interior surface of the ring or collar 50 to clamp the casings together. he in the form of a split O-ring is used under the split clamping ring 53 to resiliently maintain the parts in sealed relation.

Fig. 14 illustrates the method of assembly of this modifled form of seal. Diaphragm 27, having a notched periphery as shown in Fig.- 16, is p l'aced upon theupper radial face of flange 30 with the notches in registrywith shoulders 52. Upper casing I-is'then placed in position The upper cas-' ing has a body .1 and hollow chambers 3 and 4, the former A spring ring which may resilient ring is flattened out.

retain their resilient nature, they tend to restore to. their original shape as shown in Fig. 18, thereby holdingthe flanges of the pump casings tensioned beneath th clamping ring 53. g

It is also contemplated that the spring ring and clampwith flange 51 on the diaphragm. A split O-ring or spring ring overlies flange 51, and the unit is locked together by split locking ring 53' superimposed on the resilient spring ring. Both the spring ring and locking ring have ends abutting faces 55 and 56. The locking ring 53 has an upturned ou-terrim 54 of slightly greater diameter than the internal diameter of ring or collar 50. The casings are then forced together in a press until lower radial face of flange 51 contacts the upper surface of shoulders 52, thus definitely limiting and uniformly applying the compressive forces upon the diaphragm 27. This operation may be performed by a spring pressed plunger, or the like, and further action of the press telescopes the clamping ring 53 with ring or collar 50 and wedges it within the ring or collar 50 by compressing the resilient rim 54 of the ring to lock the parts clamped tightly together as shown in Fig. 15. The pressure of the locking ring deforms the resilient ring, but the ring is of material possessing the characteristics for permanent recovery, which maintains the parts resilientl tensioned at all times.

Fig. 17 shows a pancake-type of pump with exactly the same seal as above described for the hat-shaped pump of Fig. 12. Similar reference characters are used to identify like parts. Flange 30 and collar 50 are integral with the casing 20, and upper casing 40 has a flange 51 held in locked, sealed relation with lower casing flange 39 by a split resilient O-ring 36 and split clamping ring 53 identical with those above described and assembled in the same manner to form a coupling.

'In describing the seals for the pumps shown in Figs. 12 and 17, a resilient O-ring 36 has been described, but it is contemplated that a resilient ring of metal or the like may also be used in place of the O-ring. In Fig. 18 such a ring has been shown. The metal ring 36' of Fig. 18 is constructed of spring steel, and at each periphery of the ring are spring fingers 59 and 60, which may be flattened by sealing ring pressure but which will inherently maintain their tendency to restore themselves to the position of Fig. 18, where-by the seal is tensioned by the ring. An example'of the use of this ring of Fig.--18 is shown in Figs. 19 and 20. In these views a section of the flange portions of the pump are shown, and the pump may be of any particular type as in the above views. In Fig. 19 a diaphragm 27' is placed in position on the upper radial face of the flange 30 with notches in registry with the shoulders 52. The flange 51 of the upper casing is disposed on top of the diaphragm. Upper face of flange 51 receives the spring ring 36', and above the spring ring is clamping ring 53. In this view the fingers 59 and 60 are undeforrned, but when the clamping ring is pressed tightly down to seal the joint between the pump casings as in Fig. 20, it will be noted that the Since the fingers 59 and ing ring may, in effect, be combined in one element: Such a device is shown in Fig. 21, and its use illustrated in the combination in Fig. 22. The spring locking or clamping ring 67 of Fig. 21 isformed of mild steel and the lower casing has the usual flange 30 and-upstanding ring or collar 50, and the upper casing the usual flange 51, which contacts the shoulders 52 to limit the compression of the upper flange on the diaphragm 27'. A

ring groove is provided in the upper radial face of the flange 30, indicated as 35, the same in contour as that shownin Fig. 10. Locking ring 67 contacts the upper face of flange 51, and the flanges are forced intoabut-ting relation as explained. In the pressing operation, the ring pump, said casings having engaging limiting abutments, flanges on said casings, opposed, registering faces on said flanges, a pump diaphragm between said faces, an annular groove in one of said faces having an inner beveled edge, a pressure deformable means in said groove engaging said diaphragm and acted upon by pressure between said faces in assembling said casings for compressing said diaphragm radially, and means for coupling said casings while assembled.

6. In a fuel pump, a pair of separate pump casings, a pump diaphragm between said casings, and means interconnecting the said casings to form a sealed unit comprising abutment means for positioning said casings and limiting the sealing pressure on said diaphragm, locking means to hold said casings positioned, and pressure deformable means for maintaining a substantially constant sealing pressure between said casings when locked together by said means.

7. In a fuel pump, a pair of separate pump casings, a

plastic pump diaphragm between said casings, and means interconnecting the said casings to form a sealed unit comprising abutment means for positioning said casings in spaced relation to limit the pressure on said diaphragm, and a seal comprising locking means to hold said casings positioned, and including a pressure deformable means in said seal, compressed during operation of said locking means, for maintaining substantially constant pressure on said diaphragm.

8. In a fuel pump, a pump body casing and a lever casing, flanges on said casings, opposed, registering faces on 3 said flanges to form a joint between said casings, a pump diaphragm between said faces, a seal for said joint comprising an annular groove in one of said faces, a deformable ring differing in section from said groove and compressed by sealing pressure between said faces to fill said groove and expand radially in contact with said diaphragm for maintaining substantially constant sealing pressure on said diaphragm as said joint expands after assembly, or contracts due to pressure acting on said ring in assembling said casings, and means for coupling said casings While assembled, including a ring on one of said flanges and surrounding the other said flange and deformable parts between said other flange and said ring.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said deformable parts are integral with said ring.

10. The combination as defined in claim 8, wherein a separate ring has said deformable parts.

11. In a fuel pump, the combination of separate pump casings, flanges on said casings, opposed registering faces on said flanges, and means for coupling said casings, when assembled, comprising a ring on one of said flanges,

10 spaced recesses in the other of said flanges, deformabIe portions on said ring engaging in said recesses and anchoring said pump casings in assembled relation, and an O-ring between said casings, compressed during assembly, for maintaining said deformable portions tightly in said recesses.

12. In a fuel pump, a pair of separate flanged casings, a joint between said casing flanges, and a non-reusable, frangible seal for said joint comprising a ring on one of said flanges and a seating portion formed on the other flange, said ring bearing identifiable markings, means on said ring forcibly deformed into permanent clamping engagement with the seating portion of the other of said flanges to secure said casings in assembled relation whereby disassembly of said pump casings requires fracture of said seal by destruction of at least a part of said identifiable ring.

13. In a fuel pump, a pair of separate flanged casings, one of said flanges being formed with a seating portion, a joint between the casing flanges and a non-reusable, frangible seal for said joint comprising a ring bearing identifiable markings with parts thereof forced into permanent clamping engagement with said seating portion to secure said casings in assembled relation whereby disassembly of said pump casings requires the fracture of said seal by destruction of at least a part of said identifiable ring.

14. In a fuel pump, a pair of separate casings, a pump diaphragm between said casings, and means for interconnecting said casings to form a sealed, tamper-proof unit, said means comprising a sealing ring on one of said casings, deformable tines projecting from said ring toward the other of said casings, and means forming a plurality of notches in said other easing into which said tines fully project, when deformed, to hold said casings assembled, said tines filling said recesses flush with the surface of said casing, to conceal the edges thereof and prevent access thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 966,513 Avery Aug. 9, 1910 1,191,061 Carter July 11, 1916 1,367,427 Pierce Feb. 1, 1921 1,888,322 Lanclot et al Nov. 22, 1932 1,897,876 Wheeler Feb. 14, 1933 1,907,397 Kosik May 2, 1933 1,985,282 Carter Dec. 25, 1934 2,567,683 Tamminga Sept. 11, 1951 2,638,849 Budlane May 19, 1953 2,659,310 Ryba Nov. 17, 1953 

